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The Ludi Romani ("Roman Games"; see ludi) was a religious festival in ancient Rome held annually, starting in 366 BC, from September 12 to September 14. In the 1st century BC, an extra day was added in honor of the deified Julius Caesar on 4 September and extended to September 19. The festival first introduced drama to Rome based on Greek drama.
Festivals in ancient Rome were a very important part in Roman religious life during both the Republican and Imperial eras, and one of the primary feat of "holy days"; singular also feriae or dies ferialis) were either public (publicae) or private . State holidays were celebrated by the Roman people and received public funding.
Ludi were held in conjunction with, or sometimes as the major feature of, Roman religious festivals, and were also presented as part of the cult of state. The earliest ludi were horse races in the circus (ludi circenses). [1] Animal exhibitions with mock hunts and theatrical performances (ludi scaenici) also became part of the festivals. [2]
A religious festival held on a single day, such as the Floralia, might be expanded with games over multiple days (Ludi Florae); the festival of Flora is seen as a precursor of May Day festivities. [8] A major source for Roman holidays is Ovid's Fasti, a poem that describes and provides origins for festivals from January to June at the time of ...
The Consualia or Consuales Ludi was the name of two ancient Roman festivals in honor of Consus, a tutelary deity of the harvest and stored grain. Consuales Ludi harvest festivals were held on August 21, [1] and again on December 15, in connection with grain storage. The shrine of Consus was underground, it was covered with earth all year and ...
Ennius (239–169 BC) had Thyestes performed as part of this festival in 169 BC. [2] [8] The Ludi Apollinares received less funding from the Roman government than other games/festivals such as the Ludi Romani or Ludi Plebeii, because it was shorter and had only one day of races. [9]
The Plebeian Games (Latin Ludi Plebeii) were an ancient Roman religious festival held November 4–17. [1] The games ( ludi ) included both theatrical performances ( ludi scaenici ) and athletic competitions for the purpose of entertaining the common people of Rome.
The Megalesia commenced on April 4, the anniversary of Cybele's arrival in Rome. The festival structure is unclear, but it included ludi scaenici (plays and other entertainments based on religious themes), probably performed on the deeply stepped approach to her temple; some of the plays were commissioned from well-known playwrights.